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Announcement From The Board

We are seeking to consolidate into a single not-for-profit an organization that can accept grants from foundations and tax-deductible charitable contributions from individuals. This requires a merger between CMHACY and it’s “sister” organization Children & Youth Behavioral Health Council of California (CYBHCC).

We need YOUR VOTE to make this happen. Join us at the membership meeting on Thursday, May 17, 2018 at 5:00 pm in Merrill Hall, Asilomar Conference Grounds.

Background: CMHACY incorporated in the early 1980s as a 501(c)4, a social welfare nonprofit organization. Similar to a home owners association it is “owned” by the members. To be a CMHACY member you must pay annual dues included in conference registration. Your membership expires if you don’t register. Members elect a Board of Directors. The Board plans/produces a conference and handles the business of the organization throughout the year. The major downside of this type of nonprofit is fundraising limitations – many foundations won’t make grants to a 501(c)4 and contributions from individuals are not tax deductible.

“Sister Organization.” In order to address the fundraising issue, the CMHACY Board created a separate organization having an identical Board of Directors — Children & Youth Behavioral Health Council of California (CYBHCC). It is incorporated it as a 501(c)3. This “sister” organization can accept foundation grants and contributions. However, maintaining two organizations is cumbersome and it requires its own financial accounting, more meetings, maintaining additional corporate documents along with annual filings with the Attorney General, Secretary of State, IRS, and California Franchise Tax Board.

Board Recommendation: The CMHACY Board is recommending that the two organizations merge into one 501(c)3. The “new” organization will have no members. The final authority and responsibility to operate the organization will be vested in the Board of Directors.
Stakeholder Input. To assure stakeholder voice, the CMHACY Board makes the following commitments:
• The size of the Board will increase from 12 to 15 members
• Term limits will be established affording more frequent opportunity for a variety of stakeholders to serve as Board members
• Two Board seats will be reserved for youth – selected by youth
• Two Board seats will be reserved for parents – selected by parents
• Typically, there will be five open Board seats each year. Upcoming vacancies will be posted on the website well in advance of the conference
• Nominations to the Board will be open to all stakeholders who may express their interest by completing an online application to include a personal statement about why they want to serve on the Board. The personal statement will be posted on the website.
• A “straw” vote/poll will be conducted at each conference, for all nominees
• The top vote “getters” will be announced at the conference – top vote “getters” will include at least two nominees more than open Board seats, e.g., if four Board seats are “open,” six nominees will be included as top vote “getters”
• Following the conference the top vote “getters” will be interviewed by a selection committee composed of at least three Board members and two non-Board members appointed by the President
• The selection committee shall present their recommendation to the full Board for election
• This election shall take place at the Board meeting following the conference.

Please come to the annual meeting on May 17, 2018 at 5:00 pm and voice your opinion.